Scene Change(Time)

'internal monologue'

Namikaze Compound

"I-I-I don't know." Hanabi stuttered like her sister used to.

"It isn't a hard question Imoto. Only you, Yamato, and I can get into the estate. Yamato is missing and I have not let any strange naked woman into the estate. So why have you?" Naruto asked.

"I didn't, the portal opened up in the dojo on its own." The younger Namikaze said.

"The dojo? There aren't any portals to the dojo except the emergency one. But that can only be opened..." The blond muttered to himself before looking up at Hanabi.

"Imoto, tell me did, she have an orb with her?"

"Hai." The former Hyuuga nodded. Naruto gave a small smile and made his way to the door.

"Nii-san?" The dark haired girl asked.

"Come on, we're going to have a talk with this woman."

"Her name is Anko." Hanabi said.

"Hmm, sounds familiar." The blue-eyed boy said.

"Nii-san, what happen to your whiskers?" The younger Namikaze asked as they walked down the hall.

"It's a long story I intend to tell it later. But I'm all right promise." Naruto answered.

"Hey, you're back, decided you couldn't resist?" Anko said lounging on the bed in a far too small bathrobe.

"I have no idea as to what you're talking about. Anko-san, can you show me the orb you used to get in here?" The former monk said.

"Uh sure..." The spike haired Jonin answered wondering what the hell it took to get this kid flustered.

"I see, this is a sanctuary orb. I assumed they were all destroyed after the war." Naruto said holding the orb.

"Sanctuary orb?" Both girls asked.

"It was a rare trust given to those who the Clan thought might need it. It allowed those that had it a one way portal into the compound. There were only five created one for each of the five kinds of people we would give the orb to; fathers, mothers, children, priests, and warriors. This is a children orb, used when the Clan head thought the child might be abused but too afraid to tell anyone." The blue-eyed boy explained.

"So what does that mean?" The snake mistress asked.

"Legally, you are now my daughter...." Naruto answered stone faced.

"What?" Anko said her mouth open in shock.

"To protect the child; the orb, once used, activates an adoption clause in both Clan law and Konoha law." The blond said with a shrug.

"But I'm an adult!" The dango loving woman said angrily.

"Admittedly so, but I don't know of anything that specifically refers to this. When did you receive that orb anyway?" The former monk said without much reaction to Anko's outburst.

"When I was 14."

"My Otou-san probably intended to give you another orb once you reached the age of majority, but died before he could then." The blond said stroking his chin.

"So then the orb is useless to me?" Anko asked.

"No, it's still quite valid by clan law. Unless you file for emancipation or I or my guardian declares you an adult, you are my daughter." The formerly whiskered boy answered.

"Fuck."

"Yes, why did you come here anyway?" Naruto asked.

The two girls told the story as best they could.

"I see. Hanabi are you certain about what you saw?" The former monk asked.

"Hai." Hanabi answered nodding.

"Brace yourselves." The blond said, and a small wave of chakra went out from him. It did no harm but shocked both of the other people.

"What the hell was that?" Anko shouted.

"I was pulsing my chakra, I needed to be sure." Naruto answered before launching his hand out and catching something in his hand.

"Got you...you're a nasty one...burn." The former monk said, incinerating something.

"Ehh?" Hanabi said seeing the thing from earlier go up in smoke.

"So they did do it." The blond muttered.

"What are you?" Anko asked cautiously. The amount of control it took to turn chakra into flame without hand signs was not a small thing. And this boy seemed to think it trivial.

"With all due respect Anko-san, I have to go welcome the family." Naruto answered bowing before running off.

"He doesn't seriously think of me as his daughter does he?" The snake mistress asked.

"I honestly don't know, Nii-san is a strange one." Hanabi replied with a shrug.

Hokage Tower

Black walked up to the side of the Hokage tower. He had been ordered by Blue to cause as much trouble as possible. Now, he didn't mind these kinds of orders. After the monastery and all its rules and regulations, Black had come to love chaos and causing it was his idea of a pleasant afternoon.

"Hmm....let's try this." The man said concentrating his chakra around his fist. Black reached back and punched the wall.

At the last second, a hand strike diverted the punch into the ground causing a crater. Black leapt back and glared at the man who had interrupted his fun.

"Impressive, but I can't let you guys run around free anymore." A tall man with green eyes and silver hair said.

"Silver, why do you always have to ruin my fun?" Black scowled.

"Because, Black, I remembered who I was." Silver answered.

"You mean a boring hero?" Black said.

"Yeah, that."

"Well maybe you're still entertaining." The crazed man said sliding into a stance.

"You know you can be healed too; all of you can." Silver said sliding into his own stance.

"No! I'm not going back to that pathetic thing I was before!" Black shouted his eyes narrowing.

"So be it." Silver said with a sigh.

"Give me a good fight!" Black roared before leaping forward.

Sarutobi had heard the crash, and with his ANBU, moved to investigate. The scene before them was almost surreal. They were using nothing but their bodies but the two men had destroyed much of the surrounding area. As the silver haired man launched a hook kick, taking out the side of a building, Sarutobi reached a decision.

"Take them down." The old Kage said without emotion.

"Hai." The ANBU captain said.

Now, one might think that ANBU were merely created in order to show when a threat was serious. But that wasn't quite fair. ANBU was divided into two separate but related groups, the Offensive squadrons or the Defensive squadrons. Use the right squadron, and they could be tremendous force multipliers. Misuse them, and they died just like any other cannon fodder.

Sarutobi knew how to use them.

The ANBU were ninja in the truest sense of the word. This led them to trying to attempt to assassinate the two duelling monks. Given the amount of property damage being done, it was rather difficult. Still, the ninja preserved, finally landing a kunai into the silver haired man's spine.

"Oh for the love of..." Silver snarled as he collapsed, his legs no longer responding to his commands.

"Sorry Silver, you lose this time. Maybe some other day." Black said leaping away from the scene.

"You guys suck!" Silver growled.

"Watch your tongue!" The ANBU captain said with a snarl.

"I'll get working on that I assure you. Now get me to a hospital!" Silver deadpanned.

"You're in no place to make demands."

"Who are you? And what is your connection to the dark order?" The Hokage asked, making his way to the downed man.

"By the One Above, another monk lives?" Silver asked blinking in amazement.

"Answer the question."

"I was once a servant of the dark order. I had been...forced into service by the Master. But a few years back, I was involved in a ritual. I don't know what it was, but the result was me returning to who I was before. Since then I have done what I could to stop the dark order." The green eyed man answered

"Sir?" the ANBU captain asked.

"Throw him into one of the chakra draining cells then heal him up later. Have Ibiki find out the truth from him." Hiruzen said after a moment.

"Wait! I'm on your side!" Silver shouted.

"I have no proof of this. You wear similar robes to the man who just left, and both of you were harming my village. If you truly are on our side then you have nothing to fear." The Sandaime said, his eyes hard.

"Blast." Silver said; admittedly, the Hokage had a point.

Hyuuga Compound

"Well that was an interesting few days." Hiashi commented as he and his daughter drank tea, as was their custom.

"Yes it was father... that the council could fall to infighting like that." Hinata said thinking back.

*Flashback*

The elders had met for their weekly meeting. The weekly meeting was originally used to figure out how to improve the Hyuuga clan's prestige and take care of minor matters that the clan head was too busy for. However, it had evolved into something else; with each elder jockeying for position and influence within the clan. The stakes were slavery or power and they all willingly chose to play.

Those that didn't, for some reason or other, always seemed to have accidents. There had been more than a few elders muttering about them as of late. That was when the fiends made their presence known. Now, understand every person in that room hated each other in some form or fashion. Thus, when Elder Hoshi killed Hiroshi all hell broke loose.

*End Flash back*

"It is a sad thing to lose so many good Hyuuga clansmen to whatever it was. But still we have much to discuss." The Hyuuga Patriarch said.

"What is that Otou-sama?"

"In case you haven't noticed Hinata, the main branch consists exactly of five people; you and me and the three surviving elders. The three elders that survived are gibbering madmen right now and useless to us."

"So we are the last viable members of the Main House?" Hinata asked with a slight twitch to her face.

"Correct, and whatever happens, the Branch House shall become the future of the Hyuuga clan. If you marry outside the clan, the Main house ends and the Branch house shall lead. As much as I despise the thought of any man outside the clan touching you my daughter, I would prefer it if you married sooner rather than later so I may properly groom a successor." The grim faced man said.

"I am not betrothed already?" The Hyuuga heiress asked in shock.

"No, who told you that nonsense? I would not betroth you; your mother made it clear that it wasn't an option." Hiashi asked with one eyebrow raised.

"I assumed..."

"Remember; assume nothing is true without seeing it with your own eyes. Now you are free to choose your own husband, provided he is of the proper station."

"What of the Namikaze?" Hinata asked quietly.

"What of them? They shall remain under our anathema until I die. That is the nature of such things." The Hyuuga patriarch said without expression.

"I see."

"I know you still care for the Namikaze boy, but if I were to revoke the anathema it would say that the clan is weak." Hiashi said gently.

"I understand Otou-sama, what else do we have to discuss?" The indigo haired girl asked.

"Tell me, how you are progressing within your team?" The Hyuuga patriarch asked.

"Hai." Hinata said and began to talk about the past few weeks, carefully editing the parts that would be frowned upon.

Rusty Kunai (night)

Tsume walked into the bar with Shibi and sat down with the elder Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

"You look like a mess Tsume!" Inoichi called.

"I am a mess Inoichi. The entire damn clan went crazy, dozens injured, more if the pack hadn't intervened."

"There've been stories like that all over town recently. People murdering others, rape, the works. My own family just stopped working entirely; troublesome." Shikaku scowled before taking a long shot of sake.

"Yeah, my family was lucky, we just ate everything. Set us back a fair bit and some of us came down with indigestion, but we're okay." Chouza said grabbing some food.

"Wish I could say the same. I have more than a few clan traitors to kill. I'm just glad that Ino wasn't here to be involved." Inoichi said with a dark glower.

"I feel the same. Little has happened to the Aburames, but I'm glad that my son was not here during the recent troubles." Shibi said after asking for a glass of water.

"Well Shibi, you're just about the only one without any problems. I wonder why the Aburames were spared." Tsume said knocking back a shot of some unnamed alcohol.

"Whatever the cause of this affliction is, it seems to target the mind. Our bonding with insects perhaps provides some protection." The Aburame clan head said. A slight shrug seemed to indicate 'hell if I know'.

"That might be it; in either case I need another drink." The feral woman said, shouting at a waitress for the last part.

"How do you think the other clans are doing?" Chouza asked.

"Something happened with the Hyuuga, but no one knows what. If my wife is to be believed, the other clans came out mostly okay. They're too few in number to really get worked up about." Shikaku was a lazy man, but also a genius; in particular, he had developed an ability to decipher the true situation just using bits of random gossip.

"Think the Hokage's going to call a council meeting?" Inoichi asked.

"I doubt it, too much work to be done first, with what happened near the tower. Maybe in a week or so." Chouza said frowning; some of his businesses had been damaged by that fight.

"What about the Elders?" Shibi asked calmly sipping his water.

"They might force one, but Sarutobi-sama has been much more forceful as of late. They will be wary of unduly angering him." Inoichi said taking another longer drink.

"Homura and Koharu have always been arrogant and that bastard Danzo is no better." Tsume growled.

"Calm yourself Tsume, regardless of your feelings against him Danzo is a well respected ninja." The Aburame head said calmly.

"Bastard doesn't deserve half of it." The tattooed woman said with a snarl.

"Let's talk about something else..." Shikaku said before the troublesome woman got in another bar fight.

Hokage Tower (Night)

"Naruto what are you doing here?" Hiruzen asked as he read over the preliminary report on this Silver fellow.

"Master Sarutobi, I have something to tell you about the Kyuubi. Bring anyone you feel needs to know to the Namikaze compound." The blond answered bowing.

"What about the Kyuubi?" Sandaime said sitting up straight and giving a very hard glare.

"It is a long tale; I only wish to tell it once Master Sarutobi." Naruto said unaffected.

"No, you will tell me now Naruto, you are under my command remember?" The Sandaime said in a very cold tone.

"Of course, forgive me Master Sarutobi." The blue eyed boy said with another bow.

"Hokage-sama. " Genma said walking into the room; he and Asuma had given up waiting for the barrier to fall.

"Ahh Genma, Asuma good of you to arrive; Naruto has something to tell us." The Hokage said his earlier tone vanished.

"Naruto? But isn't he behind that barrier?" Genma asked.

"I was Genma-sensei, but I am no longer." The blond agreed

"My life is about to get more complicated isn't it?" The senbon chewing jonin asked.

"Usually does." Asuma agreed lighting up a cigarette

"Remind me to not take another team." The bandana wearing man said. Asuma nodded.

"Genma stop whining. Naruto continue." Hiruzen said with a frown.

"Yes, well, the Kyuubi escaped." The blond began.

"WHAT!" All three shouted.

"Calm down, his power has been severely limited; he only has four and half tails." The blond said defensively.

"I have the other half of his power. My half has been purified into Holy chakra, the rest is still demonic. We are set to meet at the ruins of the monastery at Mt. Shaoshi. The winner will become the new Kyuubi; as it stands I will lose." He continued.

"So why should we be calm again?" Asuma asked lighting another cigarette after dropping the first one on the floor.

"Because getting worked up about the Kyuubi won't change the situation. Naruto why do you say you will lose?" The Sandaime said.

"He has had millennia of experience with his chakra and combat. I have considerably less." The former monk answered with a small frown.

"What happens if you don't show up?" Genma asked, nervously chewing on a senbon.

"I have no idea, but on the other hand I have no desire to fight the being that is creating this contest anyway." The blue-eyed boy said.

"Powerful?" The Sandaime asked. Naruto had never been one for fear before, but whatever this thing was, it had him spooked.

"Made the Kyuubi submit." Naruto answered.

"So, capable of kicking all our asses then." Asuma commented after taking a long drag

"So that is why you have no whiskers?" The Hokage asked curious.

"Yes I am no longer a jinchuruki. Although the holy chakra is immense, other than slightly boosting my healing and perceptions it carries no marks." The blond answered.

"So know we have to deal with the Kyuubi." Genma groaned wishing for a drink.

"No, there's a truce until that day, Konoha should be safe. To be honest, I have no idea what the Kyuubi is doing now." Naruto said shaking his head the frown deepening.

"Great, the Akatsuki is just going to love this." The old Kage said.

"The who?" Naruto asked.

"A rather secretive organization that apparently wishes to steal all the biju." The Sandaime explained.

"Well that idea is pointless." The chain-smoking Jonin said.

"Yes, but I don't think they are going to give up that easily." Hiruzen said with a wry smile.

"As you say Master Sarutobi." The blond agreed.

"So what now Hokage-sama?" Genma asked.

"We wait and tell Naruto to fix this problem." The Sandaime said.

"I have several clones working on that. On a slightly related note, Anko Mitarashi is now a ward of the Namikaze." Naruto said with a tone that would've been called a whine if it had been anyone else.

"What?" For the second time that day all three men asked.

"She used the children's orb of sanctuary." The former monk said with a shrug.

"Minato gave her that?" Hiruzen asked in surprise.

"From what I gather, my father intended to change the orb but never got a chance. " The blue-eyed boy said.

"O.K. then; damned clan laws." The Sandaime muttered the last part.

"Wait he's telling the truth?" Asuma asked wondering how Kurenai was going to take her best friend being under someone's guardianship.

"Yes, legally Anko Mitarashi is Naruto Namikaze Uzumaki's adopted daughter." Hiruzen said and lit his pipe.

"Say, Naruto, what's your policy on dates?" Genma said getting a perverted grin.

"Dammit Genma." Asuma scowled.

"Genma-sensei has much to learn on the path to enlightenment." Naruto said shaking his head. It was far too late, as Genma had gone off to the male fantasy land.

"Snap out of it you bastard!" The younger Sarutobi growled, shaking Genma.

"You may leave Naruto, I doubt Genma's going to be of any use tonight." The old Kage said with a sigh.

"By your leave then Master Sarutobi." The former monk bowed and left.

"Screw it; I'm going to see Kurenai." Asuma said, dropping Genma on the floor and leaving.

The Sandaime got back to work, figuring that Genma would snap out of it later. A half hour past and the gurgling sounds Genma made began to get annoying.

"Genma, you have five seconds to snap out of it before I tell Kurenai and Anko that you stole their bras." Hiruzen had no idea if this was true, but it sounded like something Genma would do.

"Yes sir, sorry sir, anything I can do sir?" The senbon chewing Jonin snapped straight up and stood at attention.

"Go prepare to get your team back in the swing of things. I want them in the chuunin exam if possible."

"Yes sir!" Genma shouted before running away.

Namikaze Compound

"Here we go master." The clone said handing a sheet filled with archaic symbols and scribbles.

"Hmm, this going to take a lot of time." Naruto said reading over the sheet.

"The other clones have already prepared everything, just needs the right incantations and chakra." The clone said.

"All right, go get Hanabi and then dispel." The original said after a moment. The clone nodded and left the room as Naruto made his way to the prepared chamber.

"Hello Hanabi-chan." Naruto smiled.

"Nii-san what are you doing?" Hanabi asked looking at her brother standing without a shirt in a middle of a rather complex series of seals.

"Well, in theory this should free the town from the plague." The blond answered as he gathered his chakra.

"Oh. Why do you need me?" The younger Namikaze, despite her outward demeanour, was actually ecstatic she hated those things.

"Well, I expect that I'll pass out from chakra exhaustion. I want you to make sure I don't die." The Namikaze heir explained.

"Wouldn't Anko-san be better?" The former Hyuuga asked a little nervous.

"In terms of ability, yes, but that taint of hers means she can't be near the ritual without messing it up." Naruto answered.

"I'll try my best Neii-san." Hanabi said.

Naruto smiled and closed his eyes. He began to chant something in a language that was harsh and guttural. Chakra whirled about him in a storm of light and shadow as the symbols on the floor began to glow.

"It is done." Naruto said at last sweat pouring off him. He gave a small smile before collapsing.

"Nii-san!" Hanabi said going through the seals needed to use the byakugan.

'There's...no fox, only that holy chakra of his. Nii-san nearly killed himself with that! That baka. Still, it looks like he'll be okay he just needs to rest for a while.' Hanabi thought as she checked over her older brother.

"Anko-san!" Hanabi called.

"What?" The trench coat wearing woman asked a few minutes later.

"Can you help me get Nii-san to his room he has heavy chakra exhaustion." The younger girl said.

"What did he do?" The brown-eyed woman asked.

"Nii-san said that he was removing the plague on this town. The things that caused all these problems." Hanabi explained.

"Good for him *Grunt* he's a lot heavier than he looks." Anko said hefting the unconscious boy over one shoulder.

"Nii-san's body is much denser than average." The black haired girl nodded.

"Yeah, no problem, where's his room?" The dango loving Jonin asked. Hanabi lead the way toward the bedroom Naruto had chosen.

"So I have to talk to him later about this daughter thing huh?" Anko asked with a sigh.

"Yes, but I think Nii-san intends to go through with it. He's not capable of not fulfilling a promise." The former Hyuuga answered.

"Good trait to have in a monk, a shitty one in a shinobi." The snake mistress said, whishing there was some sake in this place.

"Yes well, I honestly don't know why Nii-san is here instead of the monastery. But I can't say I'm not glad for it." Hanabi said with a slight smile.

"Yeah?"

"Nii-san was friends with Hinata-san. They were going to use the caged bird seal on me. Hinata-san found out and got me out of the compound to him. Originally, I was supposed to go to his monastery, but they don't accept girls so instead he adopted me as a Namikaze." The younger girl said.

"All because a friend asked him to? That'd be kind of impressive, if it wasn't so clichéd." Anko said with a wry grin.

"Nani?"

"Don't you read any stories? Guys that do anything for their friends are a dime a dozen. Have to admit I never thought I'd meet one in the real world." The snake mistress said.

"Oh, the Hyuuga have never had much use for stories; better to concentrate on the here and now." Hanabi quoted from memory.

"That's kind of sad; a lot of people draw a lot of joy from stories." The trench coat wearing woman said.

"Does that sound like the Hyuuga clan to you?" The former Hyuuga asked raising an eyebrow.

"No."

"Sleep well Nii-san." Hanabi said as they put Naruto to bed. As they got to the door, Anko asked.

"One more question, is Naruto gay?"

'Why does this keep happening to me?' Hanabi thought with a mental groan.

A/N: Okay all done this chapter. As always a big thanks to DustbunnyQueen for betaing my atrocious grammer. If you feel like writing something give my challenges a try. Otherwise read, give feedback and I'll see you next time. Next: Anko learns the meaning of curfew, Yamato makes his way home and The Wave mission returns with some causalities.